How A Bill Becomes A Law

How A Bill Becomes A Law

“We are not well served when, in response to a terrorist attack, we descend into fear and panic. We don’t make good decisions if it’s based on hysteria or an exaggeration of risks.”

-President Obama

 

On Nov. 19th, 2015 the House passed bipartisan legislation for stricter screening for refugees trying to enter from Syria. Obama has openly expressed his disagreement with the legislation stating, “Apparently, they’re scared of widows and orphans coming into the United States of America as part of our tradition of compassion…. That doesn’t sound very tough to me.” Vice President Biden stated that refugees from Syria have to face “the most rigorous screening.” The bill passed in the house in a vote of 289 to 137 with support from some Democrats.

It takes about two years for Syrian refugees to enter the U.S. there are many layers of screening and Syrians may face even more if the bill becomes law. Since 2011 less than 2,000 Syrian refugees have been admitted. The steps listed below are pulled directly from a New York Times article:

  1. Registration with the United Nations
  2. Interview with the United Nations
  3. Refugee status granted by the United Nations
  4. Referral for resettlement in the United States
  5. Interview with the State Department contractors
  6. First background check
  7. Higher-level background check for some
  8. Another background check
  9. First fingerprint screening; photo taken
  10. Second fingerprint screening
  11. Third fingerprint screening
  12. Case reviewed at United States immigration headquarters
  13. Some cases referred for additional review
  14. Extensive, in person interview with Homeland Security officer
  15. Homeland Security approval is required
  16. Screening for contagious diseases
  17. Cultural orientation class
  18. Matched with an American resettlement agency
  19. Multi-Agency security check before leaving for the U.S.
  20. Final security check at an American airport

Coming to the U.S. as a refugee is no easy feat despite the country one hails from, but as a Syrian the wait is long and arduous. A family, of a 33 year old man, his 23 year old wife and their five year old son, fled Syria to Jordan, but anxiety grew as they were unwelcomed in Jordan. After three years of going through the above mentioned steps they were granted refugee status in the United States. Unfortunately, as they were mid-flight, Governor Pence of Indiana announced that he would no longer welcome Syrian refugees in his state and ordered the Indianapolis resettlement organization not to accept any Syrian refugees. This family was forced to be diverted from their long awaited future. Fortunately the Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services in New Haven arranged to resettle the family soon after they landed.

If the bill becomes law the director of the FBI, the secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence has to confirm that each applicant from Syria and Iraq pose no threat. The White House’s response, more specifically that of the President, is a promised veto if it manages to pass in the Senate. According to another New York Times article, two dozen governors have said they would try and impede Syrian refugees from entering their state and a Bloomberg poll shows that more than half of the country agrees with these governors. President Obama has stood against the rising majority, tweeting that he will admit at least 10,000 fleeing Syrians (after passing the highest security checks). Despite the clear stance in the House and in the White House, the fate in the Senate is not as clear. FBI Director Comey has expressed concern that this bill could make it impossible to allow refugees into the U.S.

Ginny Nunez is a 3L and a Senior Editor for the Journal of Law and International Affairs at the Penn State University Dickinson School of Law.


Citations to articles & documents are included in the aforementioned underlined hyperlinks.

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